Romeo and juliet, west side story, two timeless dramas that will live forever. This 39page guide for west side story by irving shulman includes detailed chapter summaries and analysis covering 2 chapters, as well as several more indepth sections of expertwritten literary analysis. The 1961 musical west side story utilizes the same theme as in shakespeares romeo and juliet, in which the relationship between two lovers is not accepted by others because of their different backgrounds. West side story simple english wikipedia, the free. The rivalry between the gangs is in place from the beginning, but it reaches a fever pitch when maria falls for tony, the founder of the jets, at a local dance. It was inspired by william shakespeares play romeo and juliet the story is set in the upper west side neighborhood in new york city in the mid 1950s, a multiracial, bluecollar neighborhood. The source of violence in romeo and juliet and west side story is the everpresent. Published april 15th 1990 by pocket books first published 1961. Write an essay comparing one of the following similarities between romeo. As part of the project, wmi has partnered with soundfly to produce an. West side story pamphlet movie souvenir programme program jan 01, 1961.
Buy cheap west side story essay this is a musical film performed in the like of shakespeares tale romeo and juliet. The song lyrics by stephen sondheim is meant to show the clash of cultures not just between different ethnic groups but also within a group. The official website the official website, in all its glory. How does west side story question the idea of what it means to be an american. West side story analysis and other kinds of academic papers in our essays database at many essays. Comparing romeo and juliet to west side story is like swapping a million for a penny. The bedroom as a window opening onto the fire escape, a bed on a wall, a small shrine to the virgin, and a curtained doorway, rear. Despite a few differences, both works, in essence, have the same plot. This award winning movie, west side story achieved success in depicting the current existing culture of the americans both for the white and latin americans during the 1960s. It is based on shakespeares play, romeo and juliet. The story revolves around quarrelsome families of two new york city gangs the white jets led by the riff and the puerto rican sharks, led by bernardo.
West side story summary and study guide supersummary. West side story doesnt give a romantic classic like romeo and juliet any justice, as romeo and juliet has a lot of exciting scene play and more variation in pace, which suits all ages. The characters of the west side story were not good people. Five fast facts winner of 10 academy awards soundtrack was no 1 on the billboard charts for 54 weeks 94% on rotten tomatoes based on romeo and juliet, which is based on a poem by arthur brooke called the tragic historye of romeus and juliet, which is based on a poem by the roman poet ovid called pyramus and thisbe. Essay about analysis of west side story 1161 words bartleby. I had never seen the film, which was directed by robert wise and jerome robbins, before, but. It is nearly impossible to take on west side story, a musical adapted into. West side story analysis by andrea nzeribe on prezi. In addition to the storyform, youll also find any additional analysis or media related to the story in question. Analysis the tonight ensemble from west side story. In looking at the story, we will also examine the songs and characters and learn a bit about. Maria is a newlyarrived puerto rican girl whose brother heads a gang called the sharks against the caucasian gang called the jets.
The plot of the film involves two racebased gangs fighting to rule the same strip of street on the west side of new york city in the late 1950s. It set the irish catholic jets against the jewish emeralds, which was in keeping with the ethnic makeup of the lower east side area of manhattan. Film music analysis west side storys somewhere matt joyce. West side story actually started out as east side story in jerome robbins original pitch to bernstein in 1947 srsly. Four of the dynamic dance steps which robbins choreographed in the west side story were the following. West side story study guide tribeca film institute. The musical explores the rivalry between the jets and the sharks, two teenage. For example it talks about them raping or allowing others to rape women at several points. An analysis of the similarities and differences in dramas romeo and juliet and west side story. It takes the same theme as shakespeares, romeo and juliet, in that it is about two lovers whose relationship is not accepted by others because of conflicting backgrounds. The book west side story written by arthur laurents is set in the mid 1950s. West side story by irving shulman goodreads share book.
Murphy 7 december 2006 west side story chapter 3 in this chapter, anita is making the dress for maria. On the contrary, the boys are singing about wanting to go back to puerto rico. To ask other readers questions about west side story, please sign up. From the musical hits to the plot, west side story gives us a true essence of urban love. West side story movie souvenir programme program on. Thirtyeight years later, viewers, like myself, still cannot resist it. The music was composed by leonard bernstein, and the lyrics were written by stephen sondheim. Jan 31, 2014 the song lyrics by stephen sondheim is meant to show the clash of cultures not just between different ethnic groups but also within a group. Beth cooper professor barrett introduction to drama west side story is an american musical with a book by arthur laurents, music by leonard bernstein, and lyrics by stephen sondheim. Essay about analysis of west side story 1161 words. After owning their miserable little neighborhood for years, the jets, the fingersnapping street gang led by riff russ tamblyn, find themselves in a turf war with the upstart puerto rican sharks, led by bernardo george chakiris. Gay music for consuelo, who is examining herself in the. Clenched fists, stillness, sharp clicks and looks, changes of direction, with responsive arms.
An analysis of the success of west side story by howard goodall, extracted from the tv show twentieth century greats. An analysis of the song america in the movie the west side story. Includes information on performances all over the world, lyrics to the songs, and other information. The artistic devices, characterizations, and music all serve to explain the differences and. Oct 10, 2014 an analysis of the success of west side story by howard goodall, extracted from the tv show twentieth century greats. Supersummary, a modern alternative to sparknotes and cliffsnotes, offers highquality study guides for challenging works of literature. Instead of fair verona, where civil blood makes civil hands unclean, its the mean streets of 1950s new york city, where young gangs rumble over the right to walk down the street. Wakefield youth music theatre present west side story at theatre royal wakefield from 2 to 11 september 2010. It is about the battle for supremacy between two gangs namely sharks puerto ricans and jets whites who are musical gangs. The girls who sing in this song are singing about how much they hate puerto rico and love america. This award winning movie, west side story achieved success in depicting the current existing culture of the americans both. The musical piece in west side story entitled america is one of the most memorable from the film. As part of the project, wmi has partnered with soundfly to produce an eightpart interactive online companion course that is available.
West side story has an incredibly complex score and therefore any worthwhile discussion of this music is going to require some prior knowledge of musical forms, terminology, and traditions. Write a summary of the plot by describing what happens on each of these five days. An analysis of the song america in the movie the west side. The search for new direction in the history of american musical. The west side story is also focused on the love story of two different people having different races. Welcome to the dollhouse carnegie hall s 125th anniversary season, the weill music institute wmi launches the somewhere project, a citywide exploration of west side story.
They are getting ready for the party thats in a few hours. The west side story received a total of ten academy awards and it achieved several nominations and recognitions in the united states. West side story test west side story chapters 610 quiz. Learn by example and become a better writer with kibins suite of essay help services. Whenever i see a movie or stage production of a play, i am always interested to read the actual book to have a different perspective on the characters and overall plot. Five fast facts winner of 10 academy awards soundtrack was no 1 on the billboard charts for 54 weeks 94% on rotten tomatoes based on romeo and juliet, which is based on a poem by arthur brooke called the tragic historye of romeus and juliet, which is based on a poem by the roman poet ovid called pyramus and thisbe actors worked over 16. Read analysis the tonight ensemble from west side story free essay and over 89,000 other research documents. West side story is a musical tragedy film, directed by robert wise and jerome robbins, which is an awardwinning and adaptation of the classic romantic tragedy, romeo and juliet.
West side story chapter 3 big trouble in this chapter. The leader of the first ones decided on the next dance to challenge bernardo, the leader of the second. The production keeps the original book by arthur laurents with music. West side story 1961 film study guide contains a biography of robert wise. A theme from america was referenced by john williams for his celebratory for new york, composed in 1988 for bernsteins 70th birthday gala. Modeling compositional grammars in leonard bernsteins west side story 1957 by thomas w. West side story is a musical with a book by arthur laurents, music by leonard bernstein and. Racism is a factor in the storyline of west side story and is analyzed in the selected articles, the code of the street and reframing gang violence. Browse essays about west side story and find inspiration. Plot summary for west side story 1961, plus mistakes, quotes, trivia and more. Modeling compositional grammars in leonard bernsteins. Although both of these stories have many similarities, there are also many differences. It follows the same basic path of the shakespeare plot.
Essay in 1961, west side story, a filmed version of the hit broadway musical that was inspired by william shakespeares romeo and juliet, was released to viewers, who just could not resist the energy and excitement of the movie. A proyouth strategy in much the same way as it is presented in the movie. The book west side story written by arthur laurents is set in the mid 1950s, created as modern version of shakespeares romeo and juliet. Four dances from west side story by leonard bernstein. Shulman also wrote the original treatment for rebel without a cause, the film that shot james dean to stardom. An analysis of jerome robbins and robert wises west side story. Irving shulman 191995 was a novelist and screenwriter, known for his depictions of urban life. A comparison of romeo and juliet by william shakespeare and west side story. And unlike the typical broadway musical of the 1950s and before, west side story does not offer audiences a happy ending. Laurents ultimately invented what sounded like real street talk but actually was not. He proposed that the plot focus on the conflict between an irish catholic family and a jewish family living. Film music analysis west side storys somewhere matt.
There is a door between the bedroom and the parlor. West side story is groundbreaking in a lot of ways, but when it comes to delivering the information, it tends to rely on the triedandtrue technique of moving to the character we need to see when we need to see him or her, then moving back as the story demands. Environmental education resources to commemorate earth days 50th anniversary. He is the author of ten books, including the novels the amboy dukes, cry tough, and the square trap, which were all adapted into movies. Look at the description essay sample about west side story. West side story anaylsis essaysas a contemporary musical, west side story differs from romeo and juliet in form and detail, but stays true to the tragedy of innocent love caught in a complex social web that predestines its demise. How accurately does the song america, from the musical. West side story has three main themes, love, tragedy, and justice, which are brought to light throughout the course of the movie.
West side story started out as a longrunning, tonywinning stage musical. It starred carol lawrence as maria west side story opened on broadway at the winter garden theatre on 26 september 1957, and on the west end at her majestys theatre on 12. Just as romeo and juliet are born to rival families, tony and maria are associated with rival gangs. Mar 17, 2010 wakefield youth music theatre present west side story at theatre royal wakefield from 2 to 11 september 2010. West side story was the kind of musical people thought was good for them, a pious expression of admirable but unrealistic liberal sentiments, and certainly its street gangs at war one puerto rican, one the descendants of european immigrants seem touchingly innocent compared to contemporary reality. On the other hand, in the rise and fall of the broadway musical, mark grant concentrates on the growth of the musical in light of changes in technology and music, and in writing the book and lyrics. Youve reached the hub for any and all dramatica analysis of west side story. Peter n the song america is sung by the puerto rican sharks. Analysis of west side story west side story came out in 1961 as a. In my book club we took the comparison between this and the outsides. Analysis the tonight ensemble from west side story essay. Free west side story essay sample bestwritingservice.
In west side story, love at first sight between tony and maria set. Anonymous period 8 11514 film west side story analysis west side story is an adaption of a play written by arthur laurents, and remade into a film, directed by robert wise and jerome robbins west side story s theme is centered on the struggles of two groups of racially separated young people, and how their environment has molded them. West side story is a romantic tragedy about two characters that are supposedly completely different and arent accepted when they fall in love. West side story presented a turning point in american musicals by moving away from traditionally light themes and focusing on the social issues of the day including immigration and assimilation, racism, interracial relationships, and street gangs and turf wars. The outsiders is a book with the same concept, two gangs that are archrivals. The musicals plot is based on william shakespeares romeo and juliet.
Classroom supplement in celebration of carnegie hall s 125th anniversary season, the weill music institute wmi launches the somewhere project, a citywide exploration of west side story. West side story prologue sharks opens with bernardo red shirt shark. In particular, youll need at least a basic understanding of key areas, motives, and intervals. In this lesson, we will explore west side story, a musical written by composer leonard bernstein. An analysis of the west side story with romeo and juliet.
Swain spend an entire chapter on the analysis of west side story. West side story simple english wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Four dances from west side story by leonard bernstein wind. West side story 1961 film literary elements gradesaver. Crazy to think that what happens takes place in that time frame. Then you can start reading kindle books on your smartphone, tablet, or computer.
West side story is a musical with a book by arthur laurents, music by leonard bernstein and lyrics by stephen sondheim. West side story shows how racism and xenophobia create a system that dooms the youths of working class families. Very interesting to compare contrast on that side of the. A hero, a journey, some conflicts to muck it all up, a reward, and the hero returning. Tonight ensemble maria, tony, anita, riff, bernardo, jets and sharks in this number, all the. If you could change one thing about this story, what would. West side story is a tragic love story set in new york city in the mid1950s on the west side of the city. Analysis of west side story west side story came out in 1961 as a melodramatic musical that took place in new york. America is a fantastic example of the use of this literary tool. The two gangs focused their lives on fighting with each other. Ever notice that every blockbuster movie has the same fundamental pieces. The book west side story written by arthur laurents is set in the mid 1950s, created as. Luckily for us, they found an entirely new way to tell the story of romeo and juliet.
Although it may seem at first glance to be a relatively light hearted and fun song, and its entertainment valuable is undeniable, there is also some level of satire in it. She falls in love with tony and finds herself at the center of the violent conflict between the two gangs. Anita is marias friend and, so far, has nothing to do with the plot. West side story is a book about two gangs living in a large city.
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